The Orange Humble Band
| The Orange Humble Band | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | Alternative rock, power pop, folk, country, bluegrass |
| Years active | 1995–2001, 2012–present |
| Labels | Half a Cow, Citadel |
| Associated acts | |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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The Orange Humble Band is an alternative rock band formed in early 1995, by Darryl Mather (ex-The Lime Spiders, The Someloves) on guitar. He was joined by Anthony Bautovich (Lonely Hearts), Mitch Easter (an American indie producer-manager) on vocals, and Ken Stringfellow (The Posies) on lead vocals. The group issued two albums, Assorted Creams (1997) and Humblin' (Across America) (2001) before disbanding later that year. They reformed in March 2012 and issued a third album, Depressing Beauty, in May 2015.
The Orange Humble Band's founding mainstay, Darryl Mather (ex-Lime Spiders (1979–82)), had returned to the music scene in 1994, following a three-year absence after the break-up of his previous band, The Someloves (1986–90). He had more than an album's worth of new songs, which he took to his friend, Bill Gibson. Early in 1995 Mather with Gibson on bass guitar formed The Orange Humble Band in Sydney.
Recording of their debut album, Assorted Creams, started at 48 Volts and Charing Cross Studios, Sydney, with Anthony Bautovich (ex-Lonely Hearts) on vocals, Matt Galvin on lead guitar and Peter Kelly on drums. The final recordings took place in Mitch Easter's studios in North Carolina at Brickhenge and Reflection Studios in October 1996. Easter provided vocals, prior to Ken Stringfellow (ex-The Posies) being recruited.Assorted Creams was released in 1997 on the Half a Cow label in Australia, and on 14 July 1998 in the United States. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described it as "full of chiming guitars and sunshine-drenched 1960s melodies." James Chrispell of AllMusic found it was "a decidedly updated version of good-time music. Song after song comes along with a great melody and some interesting hippie-esque lyrics; here, there, and everywhere, there are hooks, hooks, and more hooks."
The album provided their first single, "Apple Green Slice Cut", in August 1998, which was followed by a five-track extended play, Down in Your Dreams. Alongside the title track, Chrispell felt the group "enhance their musical knowledge of pop by adding four extra tracks that vary in length and sound... A very nice added bonus for anyone who has picked up on one of Australia's little secrets of joy." One of its tracks, "Step on the Gas", had appeared on a Various Artist's compilation album, Cop It Sweet, on Antfarm Records in 1997.
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